STUDY NOTES EPISODE 2: VITAMIN D Modal Verbs STUDY TIPS When expressing politeness, opinions, making recommendations and suggestions, or simply giving advice, Modal Verbs are very useful In fact, Modal Verbs are essential in formal situations Modal Verbs are very useful in texts requiring opinions such as IELTS Writing Task 2, and the Speaking test The following group of verbs are called Modal Verbs – can / could, may / might, shall/should, will / would Modal Verbs can be part of a Verb Group and express particular meanings, such as ability, possibility, permission, advice, recommendations, necessity, obligation Will / shall and would / should are also used to form future tenses When making suggestions, and giving advice use should When describing future possibility and probability, use may or might When giving opinions, use Modal Verbs Remember too, that Modality is a register of politeness Modal Verbs are followed by the infinitive form of the main verb: Eg I would like a weekly bus ticket please You should have a rest – you have been studying all weekend May I borrow two books at a time from the library? You must be home and in bed by midnight At the end of the semester I will return to my country MODAL VERB Present Past can could MEANING EXAMPLE ability, possibility may permission Of course I can swim! I’m an Australian! Yes, I can come tonight I have nothing else to I could that when I was young May I start now? Yes, you may (I permit you.) May I come in? Yes, you may (I give you permission) I may go to the concert tonight I am not sure I might go to the concert tonight I am really not sure You look unwell You should see a doctor You look tired You ought to go to bed may should must might possibility advice, recommendation suggestion necessity, obligation Drivers must obey the road rules I must go now I am late for the meeting Page of Future Tenses Will / shall and would / should are also used to form future tenses will shall would should I promise I will return the book when I get to the library He told me he would not go out because he was studying future When making Future Predictions or Speculating about the future we have several language choices Verbs Modal Verbs Conditionals I guess // imagine // suppose // think // hope // suspect// expect We may // People might // There could be// It will be // It Would If… I will // might // could… Politeness Some Modal Verbs are used to express politeness, to be more courteous Will / Would ; Can / Could Can / will you help me please Could / would you help me please This is a simple request This is more polite Past Form of must The Past Tense form of must is had to Last night I could not go out because I had to finish my final assignment My supervisor said I had to finish the report by today Semi-Modals Some other verbs have a similar meaning to Modals but are followed by “to” and the Infinitive form of the main verb Eg Advice / recommendation / suggestion Necessity / obligation Necessity ought to have to / had to need to Page of